House train almost ready to roll

Expect action to accelerate quickly in the Texas House, where leaders hope to pass all of the governor’s emergency legislation by March 11 – give or take a few days.

Gov. Rick Perry declared Voter ID, sonograms, eminent domain, anti-illegal immigration and a federal balanced budget amendment to be emergency issues. Lawmakers can only pass emergency legislation during the first 60 days of a legislative session. Any bill can come to the House floor for debate after March 11.

Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, one of the House leaders, says the House wants to pass the emergency legislation in early March – before regular bills reach the chamber.

Democrats will fight some of the emergency issues and chide Perry for diverting attention away from legitimate problems. But they only have 49 votes in the 150-member chamber and will lose every partisan fight.